When you're plagued by ants, it feels natural to reach for the insect spray. But if you want to be a little kinder, there are some natural alternatives that also do the job.

eHow suggests that your daily coffee can be used to ward off crawling pests. It's not just a natural solution, it's also cheap. Next time you have a cup of coffee, save the grounds rather than throwing them away:

Spread used coffee grounds around pet food bowls and other areas where you wish to repel ants. Ants are repulsed by the strong smell the brewed coffee grounds put out. Spritz brewed grounds that are outside with water to keep them fresh and replace brewed coffee grounds in the house every day.

We've already looked at various ways to keep ants at bay, including using Diatomaceous Earth, but it doesn't get much easier than using your cup of joe.